Hosting Support in Haiti: An Overlooked Humanitarian Shelter Solution

After the devastating January 12, 2010, earthquake, USAID/OFDA initiated what became its largest-ever shelter and settlements sector program. Eventual spending exceeded $108 million to support a range of humanitarian shelter “solutions.” As of November 15, 2011, USAID/OFDA shelter solutions benefited 62,648 households — or more than 313,000 people — a total equal to approximately one-fifth of the 1.5 million people estimated to have been displaced by the earthquake. Included in the total is:

• Transitional shelter (t-shelter) assistance to 28,524 households;
• House repairs benefitting 7,601 households;
• Hosting support to 26,523 households.

The level of hosting support has been notable, resulting in the provision of humanitarian shelter for thousands of earthquake-affected families. However, what is even more notable is the apparent evolution of 18,492 hosting arrangements, or 70 percent of USAID/OFDA’s hosting total, into permanent housing solutions for those families, as they have decided to stay in hosting arrangements for the foreseeable future.

This two-pages document gives an overview of the activities carried out by USAID/OFDA in Haiti after the devastating January 12, 2010 earthquake, with an investment of more than $108 millions to support a range of humanitarian shelter solutions.